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| UK can expect Macron to be tough on Brexit, key adviser warns | UK can expect Macron to be tough on Brexit, key adviser warns |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Emmanuel Macron does not favour a hard Brexit but will be a tough negotiator in the UK’s talks to leave the European Union, according to the French president-elect’s chief economic adviser. | Emmanuel Macron does not favour a hard Brexit but will be a tough negotiator in the UK’s talks to leave the European Union, according to the French president-elect’s chief economic adviser. |
| Jean Pisani-Ferry, who is tipped to play a leading role in Macron’s government, said the UK and Europe shared “mutual interest” in maintaining economic prosperity. | Jean Pisani-Ferry, who is tipped to play a leading role in Macron’s government, said the UK and Europe shared “mutual interest” in maintaining economic prosperity. |
| Macron, who won the second round of the French election on Sunday, last year reacted with dismay to the prospect of Britain leaving the EU, describing the referendum result as a “crime” for which Britain should be punished by a “total exit”. | Macron, who won the second round of the French election on Sunday, last year reacted with dismay to the prospect of Britain leaving the EU, describing the referendum result as a “crime” for which Britain should be punished by a “total exit”. |
| In the run-up to the referendum Macron also warned against the “Guernseyfication” of the UK, saying that by voting to leave the country would “isolate itself and become a trading post and arbitration place at Europe’s border”. | In the run-up to the referendum Macron also warned against the “Guernseyfication” of the UK, saying that by voting to leave the country would “isolate itself and become a trading post and arbitration place at Europe’s border”. |
| Asked by BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether Macron favoured a hard Brexit, Pisani-Ferry said: “I don’t think anybody has an interest in a hard Brexit. I think we need to build a new relationship. There is a mutual interest in keeping prosperity that exists and has built over the years.” | |
| Pisani-Ferry, who could become Macron’s chief sherpa to the EU, according to the FT, also cited the importance of cooperation on defence and security, but added: “We have to keep all that, at the same time we have divergent interest on some aspects of the negotiations, so there will be a tough negotiation and he will be tough.” | Pisani-Ferry, who could become Macron’s chief sherpa to the EU, according to the FT, also cited the importance of cooperation on defence and security, but added: “We have to keep all that, at the same time we have divergent interest on some aspects of the negotiations, so there will be a tough negotiation and he will be tough.” |
| Asked if Macron favoured punishing Britain to deter other countries contemplating leaving the EU, Pisani-Ferry said: “Punish, certainly not. But he believes that even today Europe is part of the solution to the problems we are facing. He is a very committed pro-European and he is not the kind of man who would implicitly agree with the dismantling of the EU. He is very keen on building more integration. He’s very keen on strengthening the eurozone.” | Asked if Macron favoured punishing Britain to deter other countries contemplating leaving the EU, Pisani-Ferry said: “Punish, certainly not. But he believes that even today Europe is part of the solution to the problems we are facing. He is a very committed pro-European and he is not the kind of man who would implicitly agree with the dismantling of the EU. He is very keen on building more integration. He’s very keen on strengthening the eurozone.” |
| Macron’s pro-EU beliefs pose potential problems for Theresa May and her Brexit negotiators. | Macron’s pro-EU beliefs pose potential problems for Theresa May and her Brexit negotiators. |
| If Macron’s ambitious programme and campaign rhetoric is to be believed, the contours of a new Europe – more integrated on defence, the euro and social solidarity – will be taking shape in 2019 in democratic conventions across Europe just as the UK negotiations reach their denouement. | If Macron’s ambitious programme and campaign rhetoric is to be believed, the contours of a new Europe – more integrated on defence, the euro and social solidarity – will be taking shape in 2019 in democratic conventions across Europe just as the UK negotiations reach their denouement. |
| The immediate response in London to his victory was one of relief, but that could turn to worry if Macron revitalises the European project. | The immediate response in London to his victory was one of relief, but that could turn to worry if Macron revitalises the European project. |
| With the clock ticking on the negotiations, May is having little success with her attempts to divide the EU – either by flattering EU industrialists or wooing the eastern Europeans. Indeed, far from accelerating the weakening of Europe, or its disintegration, Brexit has proved to be a unifying force. | |
| EU leaders have been surprised by how quickly they have agreed their negotiating stance on Brexit. For Europeans, Brexit and the first 100 days of Donald Trump have made it easier to challenge the simple answers populism provides. | EU leaders have been surprised by how quickly they have agreed their negotiating stance on Brexit. For Europeans, Brexit and the first 100 days of Donald Trump have made it easier to challenge the simple answers populism provides. |
| That does not mean Macron is antagonistic to Britain, even if he regards the Brexit decision as an act of foolish national self-harm. As Simon Fraser, the former Foreign Office permanent under-secretary, has pointed out: “Macron likes us, he likes the City of London and he is an economic liberal.” | That does not mean Macron is antagonistic to Britain, even if he regards the Brexit decision as an act of foolish national self-harm. As Simon Fraser, the former Foreign Office permanent under-secretary, has pointed out: “Macron likes us, he likes the City of London and he is an economic liberal.” |
| But in November during his visit to London – where he was granted a meeting with the prime minister – he was remarkably clear about Brexit, grasping the details as well as principles. Britain should not be able to access the European single market unless it respected the four freedoms, including free movement of labour within the EU. There could be no access to the market or financial passporting for the City of London without financial contributions to the EU. There would have to be losses, but they had to be greatest for the UK. | But in November during his visit to London – where he was granted a meeting with the prime minister – he was remarkably clear about Brexit, grasping the details as well as principles. Britain should not be able to access the European single market unless it respected the four freedoms, including free movement of labour within the EU. There could be no access to the market or financial passporting for the City of London without financial contributions to the EU. There would have to be losses, but they had to be greatest for the UK. |
| For good measure, he was clear the Anglo-French Le Touquet agreement governing the UK-French border in Calais would need revisiting. | For good measure, he was clear the Anglo-French Le Touquet agreement governing the UK-French border in Calais would need revisiting. |
| He was also one of the first senior European politicians to say the UK would have to remain subject to the rules of the European court of justice in any transition period after it has formally left the EU. | He was also one of the first senior European politicians to say the UK would have to remain subject to the rules of the European court of justice in any transition period after it has formally left the EU. |